Soft tissue injuries to your dog can be very stressful to you, the owner, and to the dog. With treatment though, the injury can quickly heal and both you and the dog can rest easier. It is important to remember that if the dog is severely injured, to seek veterinarian treatment for the dog rather than try to fix the dog at home.
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Identification of the injury.
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Identify the type of soft tissue injury to the dog. This could be a cut, scrap, burn, or bruise. This may require moving the fur around the injury to get a good look at it. If after treatment at home, the injury does not appear to be better or if the injury appears to be worse, seek immediate medical assistance.
Cuts
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If the injury is a cut, apply pressure to the area. This will stop the bleeding. Use alcohol swabs to clean the injured area and a dog approved antibacterial cream to help keep the area clean.
Scrapes
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These should be treated with a cool cloth to reduce irritation and alcohol swabs to remove any debris or infectious material. A petroleum jelly or antibacterial cream should be applied to keep the area clean and assist in the healing process.
Burns
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Burns should be seen by a veterinarian. Treatment for burns until a veterinarian can be reached include applying a cool, damp cloth to the injury and applying a burn salve to the site.
Bruises
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If a bruise is found, applying cool pressure will help to alleviate any pain or puffiness caused by the bruise. A bruise will heal on its own and there is little treatment for the bruise beyond simply waiting for it to heal.
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